Pablo Picasso (October 25, 1881 – April 8, 1973) II

                                                                                                               

Portrait of the Artist's Father

1896

Following in the wake of my last Picasso post (only his Rose Period), I've decided to continue onto his Blue Period. The period began, according to Picasso, with the death of his friend in 1901; "I started painting in blue when I learned of Casagemas's death." But I think that was a retroactive romanticization. Picasso's periods bled into each other as did his paints. The two works at the top and bottom of this post illustrate a pre-1901 proclivity towards blueness. And several of the paintings here presage his Rose Period. For me, there's something so inhuman about the lot of them, but especially his self-portrait. 

Self-Portrait

1901

Woman on the Stage

1901

The Gourmet

1901

Madonna with Garland

1904

Child with a Dove

1901

Still-Life with Flowers

1901

Pierrot and Dancer

1900 

Pablo Picasso (October 25, 1881 – April 8, 1973)

                                                                                          

Boy with a Pipe

1905

Pablo Picasso was a major force in 20th century art (though I still think he's not quite as important as Kandinsky). I decided to pluck out one of his periods and paste it here for your glistening eyes: Rose Period. Also, by pure chance, all of the paintings I chose are from 1905. Strange coincidence. It's a beautiful period in Picasso's life, but also one that reflects a deep sadness through his characters' features. And, interestingly, in all of the paintings below the people look away from one another, which perhaps exposes Picasso's feelings of disconnect from the people around him. Maybe I'm over-analyzing it ... What else is there to say? 

Happy New Year Everyone!

Clown and Young Acrobat

1905 

Acrobat on a Ball

1905

Acrobat and Young Harlequin

1905